In-class Assignment

1. There are 4 basic Vedic texts in Hinduism, those being the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda was not composed during any determinable time, since it was a collective output of many sages and visionaries known as Rishis. They went on adding Mantras, poems and hymns for centuries. One of the main ideas of this Veda is the ultimate and harmonious structure of reality. There are 1028 hymns in this Veda. In the Sama Veda sets the music from the Rig Veda to be chanted at appropriate stages and correct modulations and tone. It has 1549 hymns. The Yajur Veda gives directions for the performance of rituals and ceremonies. I was unable to find the amount of hymns in this Veda. Finally, the Athara Veda deals with mostly ethical priciples, and some sciences, like Ayurveda (the sciences of life and longevity). It has about 730 hymns.

2. Indulgence is basically the belief that even though when you sin, they are forgiven, you still must under go punishment, whether you do it in this life, or the next. With this idea, the Pope and the catholic church began asking for money and in return, those who gave would be relieved of the punishment, and would not have to under go it in this life, or the after life. Martin Luther was against this idea. He believed it was not only wrong that they made people believe they would not have to undergo the punishment, but he also believed that even the Pope did not have the right to pardon God.
After this research, I learned furthermore that Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church, and created his own teachings, he was then excommunicated from the Catholic Church and founded the Protestant denomination of the Lutheran teachings.

3. The hajj is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in which every adult Muslim needs to take in his or her lifetime. The hajj is the fifth fundamental practice of the Muslim practices and institutions known as The Five Pillars. Furthermore, the hajj, though it is encouraged, it only if you are financially and physically able, and it would not lace a burden on your family if you do so. If you are not able to go, you are allowed to send someone in your place. Here is what the hajj looks like in the city of Mecca.